Portland, Oregon, mayor condemns violent May Day protest

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The mayor of Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday condemned the actions of protesters after more than two dozen people were arrested a day earlier during a May Day march that turned violent.

The violence and vandalism in Portland and several other Pacific Northwest cities stood out amid largely peaceful marches elsewhere in the U.S. to honor immigrants and support workers' rights.

With piles of charred debris on street corners, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler denounced the actions of a small group of protesters the night before and praised police for a "tremendous job under very dangerous circumstances."

Police try to disperse people participating in a May Day rally in downtown Portland, Ore., Monday, May 1, 2017. Police in Portland said the permit obtained for the May Day rally and march there was canceled as some marchers began throwing projectiles at officers. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP)

"In Portland, we respect peaceful protest, but we cannot and do not support acts of violence and vandalism. That's not political speech," Wheeler said. "That's a crime."

More than 100 police officers clad in body armor and gas masks shut down a march they said had become a riot late Monday and arrested people on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to arson and assault.

Some protesters dressed in black vandalized a police car, set fires in intersections, threw smoke bombs and flares and broke windows at a courthouse, City Hall and downtown businesses.

Protests also turned violent in Olympia, Washington, where police say about 50 black-clad demonstrators used sling shots to fire marbles at officers and threw rocks and cans. Two officers suffered minor injuries. Nine people were arrested and several businesses in Washington's capital city damaged.

In Seattle, five people were arrested after a smaller demonstration than in past years.

The demonstrations on May Day, celebrated as International Workers' Day, followed similar actions worldwide. The widespread protests in the United States were aimed at the new Republican president, who has followed anti-immigrant rhetoric on the campaign trail with aggressive action in the White House.

Marches in other U.S. cities from Washington, D.C., to Miami and Los Angeles were crowded but peaceful.

"It is sad to see that now being an immigrant is equivalent to almost being a criminal," said Mary Quezada, a 58-year-old North Carolina woman who joined those marching on Washington.

She offered a pointed message to Trump: "Stop bullying immigrants."

In Portland, the violence broke out about 90 minutes into the march after a peaceful rally targeting everything from Trump's environmental policies to the city's homeless problems.

Some who did not participate in the vandalism said they felt police made the situation worse with an overbearing presence that put pressure on the marchers at the back of the crowd.

Portland has a reputation in the U.S. of being a hotbed of activism and anti-establishment protest, so much so that aides to former President George H.W. Bush nicknamed it "Little Beirut" for the protests that erupted there every time he visited."

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AP writers Lisa Baumann and Martha Bellisle in Seattle and Lisa Adams in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

Demonstrators display placards and chant slogans during a May Day rally, Monday, May 1, 2017, in Chelsea, Mass. Thousands of people chanted, picketed and marched on cities across America on Monday as May Day demonstrations raged against President Donald Trump's immigration policies. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Teamster Dave Jacobsen waves from his truck as marchers go past during a march for worker and immigrant rights at a May Day event Monday, May 1, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

A protester, left, confronts a supporter of President Donald Trump, right, during a May Day protest, Monday, May 1, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A protester is arrested by Seattle Police during a May Day protest, Monday, May 1, 2017, in Seattle. Thousands of people from New England to the Midwest to the West Coast chanted, picketed and protested Monday as demonstrations raged against President Donald Trump's immigration policies along with the traditional May Day marching in favor of labor. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Protesters march through the street in Portland, Ore., Monday, May 1, 2017. Several thousand protestors marched through downtown, disrupting traffic. Immigrant and union groups will march in cities across the United States to mark May Day and protest against President Donald Trump's efforts to boost deportations. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

Police officers make a formation near a spider-shaped prop used during a May Day rally in downtown Portland, Ore., Monday, May 1, 2017. Police in Portland said the permit obtained for the May Day rally and march there was canceled as some marchers began throwing projectiles at officers. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP)

A group protests outside the White House in Lafayette Park to denounce President Donald Trump's policies on immigration on May Day in Washington, Monday, May 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Nancy Kohn, from the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, holds a Steve Bannon mask as she walks around with a Donald Trump puppet during a "Here to Stay" M1 Coalition May Day Immigration rally in front of the Statehouse Monday, May 1, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Guadalupe Chavez, center, and others yell during a protest outside of the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services building in San Francisco, Monday, May 1, 2017. Immigrant and union groups will march in cities across the United States on Monday, May 1, 2017, to mark May Day and protest against President Donald Trump's efforts to boost deportations. The day has become a rallying point for immigrants in the U.S. since demonstrations were held in 2006 against a proposed immigration enforcement bill. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Julia Sabory of Danza Xitlalli performs during a protest outside of the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services building in San Francisco, Monday, May 1, 2017. Immigrant and union groups will march in cities across the United States on Monday, May 1, 2017, to mark May Day and protest against President Donald Trump's efforts to boost deportations. The day has become a rallying point for immigrants in the U.S. since demonstrations were held in 2006 against a proposed immigration enforcement bill. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Seattle police officers on bicycles wait to follow an anti-war march by veterans during a May Day demonstration Monday, May 1, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Protesters lock arms as they block a driveway at the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services building in San Francisco, Monday, May 1, 2017. Immigrant and union groups will march in cities across the United States on Monday, May 1, 2017, to mark May Day and protest against President Donald Trump's efforts to boost deportations. The day has become a rallying point for immigrants in the U.S. since demonstrations were held in 2006 against a proposed immigration enforcement bill. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Protesters lock arms as they block a driveway at the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services building in San Francisco, Monday, May 1, 2017. Immigrant and union groups will march in cities across the United States on Monday, May 1, 2017, to mark May Day and protest against President Donald Trump's efforts to boost deportations. The day has become a rallying point for immigrants in the U.S. since demonstrations were held in 2006 against a proposed immigration enforcement bill. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Sadia Mohamed, right, a naturalized citizen from Sudan, participates with protestors during a "Here to Stay" M1 Coalition May Day Immigration rally in front of the Statehouse Monday, May 1, 2017, in Boston. Mohamed has been in the United State for nine years. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

People participate in a May Day rally in New York, Monday, May 1, 2017. The demonstrations on May Day, celebrated as International Workers' Day, follow similar actions worldwide in which protesters from the Philippines to Paris demanded better working condition. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

People participate in a May Day rally in New York, Monday, May 1, 2017. The demonstrations on May Day, celebrated as International Workers' Day, follow similar actions worldwide in which protesters from the Philippines to Paris demanded better working condition. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

People participate in a May Day rally in New York, Monday, May 1, 2017. The demonstrations on May Day, celebrated as International Workers' Day, follow similar actions worldwide in which protesters from the Philippines to Paris demanded better working condition. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

People participate in a May Day rally in New York, Monday, May 1, 2017. The demonstrations on May Day, celebrated as International Workers' Day, follow similar actions worldwide in which protesters from the Philippines to Paris demanded better working condition. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Dancers perform a traditional Peruvian dance during a May Day rally in Jersey City, N.J., Monday, May 1, 2017. The demonstrations on May Day, celebrated as International Workers' Day, follow similar actions worldwide in which protesters from the Philippines to Paris demanded better working conditions. In the United States, there were no reports of violence, but protesters vowed to participate in civil disruptions throughout the day to draw attention to the importance of immigrants in American communities. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Vicky De La Toro participates in a May Day rally in Jersey City, N.J., Monday, May 1, 2017. The demonstrations on May Day, celebrated as International Workers' Day, follow similar actions worldwide in which protesters from the Philippines to Paris demanded better working conditions. In the United States, there were no reports of violence, but protesters vowed to participate in civil disruptions throughout the day to draw attention to the importance of immigrants in American communities. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People participate in a May Day rally in Jersey City, N.J., Monday, May 1, 2017. The demonstrations on May Day, celebrated as International Workers' Day, follow similar actions worldwide in which protesters from the Philippines to Paris demanded better working conditions. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Demonstrators display placards and chant slogans during a May Day rally, Monday, May 1, 2017, in Chelsea, Mass. Thousands of people chanted, picketed and marched on cities across America on Monday as May Day demonstrations raged against President Donald Trump's immigration policies. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Nancy Kohn, of Boston, holds a Donald Trump puppet and a placard during a May Day rally, Monday, May 1, 2017, in Chelsea, Mass. Thousands of people chanted, picketed and marched on cities across America on Monday as May Day demonstrations raged against President Donald Trump's immigration policies. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Police disperse people participating in a May Day rally in downtown Portland, Ore., Monday, May 1, 2017. Police in Portland said the permit obtained for the May Day rally and march there was canceled as some marchers began throwing projectiles at officers. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP)

Police officers make a formation near a fire during a May Day rally in downtown Portland, Ore., Monday, May 1, 2017. Police in Portland said the permit obtained for the May Day rally and march there was canceled as some marchers began throwing projectiles at officers. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP)

Police officers make a formation near a spider-shaped prop used during a May Day rally in downtown Portland, Ore., Monday, May 1, 2017. Police in Portland said the permit obtained for the May Day rally and march there was canceled as some marchers began throwing projectiles at officers. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP)

Protesters from conservative and liberal groups who previously had been arguing share a marijuana joint Monday, May 1, 2017, during a May Day protest in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Protesters argue during a May Day protest, Monday, May 1, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Seattle Police officers make an arrest, Monday, May 1, 2017, during a May Day protest in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Seattle Police officers surround a man as they make an arrest, Monday, May 1, 2017, during a May Day protest in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A couple shares a kiss as they sit in Westlake Park in Seattle while protesters gather for a May Day protest, Monday, May 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Mark Burrell, right, and a man who said he goes by the name Abundis, left, light marijuana joints Monday, May 1, 2017, during a May Day protest in Seattle. The two men identify with constitutionalist and libertarian ideals and had been arguing with counter protesters when they decided to smoke pot together with their opponents. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Charred and melted debris is still visible on a downtown street corner the day after a May Day march in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, May 2, 2017. May Day protests turned violent in the Pacific Northwest as demonstrators in Portland threw smoke bombs and other objects at police, setting fires in the street while elsewhere thousands of people peacefully marched against President Donald Trump's immigration and labor policies.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

Charred and melted debris is still visible on a downtown street corner the day after a May Day march in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, May 2, 2017. May Day protests turned violent in the Pacific Northwest as demonstrators in Portland threw smoke bombs and other objects at police, setting fires in the street while elsewhere thousands of people peacefully marched against President Donald Trump's immigration and labor policies.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

Police officers make a formation as a woman demonstrates during a May Day rally in downtown Portland, Ore., Monday, May 1, 2017. Police in Portland said Monday the permit obtained for the May Day rally and march there was canceled as some marchers began throwing projectiles at officers. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP)

Police officers make a formation near a spider-shaped prop used during a May Day rally in downtown Portland, Ore., Monday, May 1, 2017. Police in Portland said the permit obtained for the May Day rally and march there was canceled as some marchers began throwing projectiles at officers. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP)

In this Jan. 17, 2017 photo, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler speaks during a press conference in Portland, Ore. Wheeler is condemning the actions of some protesters after a May Day march took a violent turn in Portland Monday, May 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

In this Jan. 17, 2017 photo, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler speaks during a press conference in Portland, Ore. Wheeler is condemning the actions of some protesters after a May Day march took a violent turn in Portland Monday, May 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)